UFC 249 off in wake of growing unease

LAS VEGAS • The UFC 249 event, which was scheduled for April 18 on Native American tribal land in California, was cancelled on Thursday in response to apprehension about staging the mixed martial arts (MMA) showcase during the coronavirus pandemic.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials reportedly intervened by expressing their concerns about the event to Disney, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) broadcast partner, ESPN.

Newsom's phone call came on the heels of California Senator Dianne Feinstein requesting that the event be delayed.

The 86-year-old said in a statement that "at best, this... ties up medical resources and sends a message shelter-in-place orders can be flouted" and "at worst, participants... could carry the virus back to their communities and increase its spread".

Dana White, the UFC president, told ESPN that he subsequently received calls from "the highest level" of leadership at Disney and ESPN, asking him not to hold the event, which featured 12 fights.

He added: "The powers that be there asked me to stand down."

In an official statement, the world's biggest MMA promotion said: "While the organisation was fully prepared to proceed with UFC 249, ESPN has requested the postponement of the event and subsequent bouts until further notice in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"UFC looks forward to resuming the full live events schedule as soon as possible."

Another statement from ESPN read: "Nobody wants to see sports return more than we do, but we didn't feel this was the right time for a variety of reasons.

"ESPN expressed its concerns to the UFC and they understood."

The network holds the rights to televise UFC fights and to sell its pay-per-view events, a lucrative relationship that yields the vast majority of its revenue.

In 2018, ESPN agreed to pay the UFC US$1.5 billion (S$2.12 billion) over five years to show 30 fights via its cable channels and live streams, and last year, that deal was extended to 2025.

The cancellation came after the card was moved from its original location at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

The UFC 249 event was to be held at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort and by attempting to hold the event on tribal land, which is considered to be sovereign, the UFC was trying to circumvent stay-at-home orders and pull off the first major sporting event in over a month.

It was also hoping to skirt around state athletic commissions that have refused to approve any bouts during the Covid-19 crisis.

But because of a federal law known as Public Law 280, state and local officials have broad authority to intervene in criminal and civil matters on tribal land, and top officials made clear their discomfort with the event.

White, however, still has plans to hold events for fighters on an undisclosed private island outside the United States.

"Fight island is real - it's a real thing," he said. "The infrastructure is being built right now."

NYTIMES